Ahishahar is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Ahishahar was a descendant of Benjamin, mentioned in the genealogies of Israel recorded in the book of 1 Chronicles. He appears in a lineage that traces the family line of Benjamin, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. The genealogies of 1 Chronicles served to document the tribal heritage of Israel, particularly after the Babylonian exile, when it was important for the returning people to establish their ancestral roots and tribal identities. In this setting, Ahishahar is listed among the descendants of Jediael, a man of the tribe of Benjamin.
The specific passage, 1 Chronicles 7:10, reads: “The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.” This verse identifies Ahishahar as one of the sons of Bilhan, who was himself a son of Jediael. He is therefore a great-grandson of Jediael in the line of Benjamin. Ahishahar is listed last among the sons of Bilhan, alongside his brothers Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, and Tharshish.
Scripture records nothing else about Ahishahar beyond his name appearing in this genealogy. No deeds, words, or personal circumstances are attributed to him in the biblical text. His inclusion in the chronicler’s record shows that he was counted among the families of Benjamin, and his name was preserved as part of the wider account of Israel’s tribal heritage. He appears only once in the King James Bible, in this single genealogical list.
The Name
The name Ahishahar is a Hebrew name, and its meaning is not clearly recoverable from the biblical text or from standard Hebrew lexicons. It appears to be a compound name, possibly beginning with the element “Ahi,” which in Hebrew often means “my brother” and is common in Israelite personal names. The second element, “shahar,” may relate to “dawn” or “morning” in Hebrew, though the precise combination and intended meaning of the full name remain uncertain. Because the name is rare and appears only here, scholars have not established a definitive meaning. It is best to say plainly that the meaning of this name is not clearly known.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be remembered in a genealogy, and neither will most of the people listed in Scripture. Ahishahar appears once, in a list, with nothing said of what he did or who he became. Yet his name was preserved because he belonged to the people of God. That is a quiet comfort: our worth is not measured by how much is written about us, but by the family we belong to. God remembers His people, even those whose stories are only a name.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 7:10 — The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.